Science and Technology, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Nestled off the southern coast of Australia, Kangaroo Island stands as a biodiverse paradise, renowned for its abundant and unique wildlife. With its diverse landscapes, from rugged coastlines to dense forests and open plains, this island sanctuary provides a haven for a wide array of species. From the iconic kangaroos to the elusive echidnas and the captivating marine life, Kangaroo Island boasts a treasure trove of fascinating creatures that captivate visitors from around the world.
As the island’s name suggests, Kangaroo Island is home to thriving populations of kangaroos and wallabies. Eastern grey kangaroos and tammar wallabies can be observed hopping gracefully across the island’s grasslands and woodlands. These marsupials are a sight to behold, with their distinctive hopping gait and adorable joeys peeking from their mothers’ pouches.
In the intricate world of ants, where countless species exhibit remarkable adaptations and social behavior, Polyrhachis femorata ants stand out as exceptional marvels of nature’s engineering. From their unique nest-building techniques to their cooperative hunting strategies, Polyrhachis femorata ants exemplify the complexity and ingenuity of the natural world.
Ants have been recognized for their industrious work, however presently a species of ant on Kangaroo Island is also demonstrating that it is skilled at ‘playing dead’, a behavior that University of South Australia UniSA researchers have stated that they have recorded a world 1st.
The discovery was made by accident by scientists who were looking into pygmy-possum and bat nest boxes on Kangaroo Island, a colony of Polyrhachis femorata ants that had looked like they were dead until one was seen moving.
Scientists concluded that the ants were ‘playing dead’ as a protective strategy to prevent a possible danger.
The findings that appeared in CSIRO, was the 1st time that a complete colony of ants had been recorded pretending death, as well as the 1st record of the Polyrhachis femorata ant species in South Australia.
A wildlife ecologist, of UniSA, Associate Professor S. ‘Topa’ Petit, indicated that she was astonished to find a colony of what seemed to be dead ants in a nest box.
She further indicated that the imitation was perfect and when the box was opened it appeared as if the ants were dead, but slightly moved.
Associate Professor Petit indicated that the nest boxes may provide a chance to evaluate the ants’ death-feigning behaviors, which are of great interest to a lot of behavioral ecologists exploring the diversity of animal species.
The finding was made when the Kangaroo Island Nest Box Project, where 901 box cavities were tracked across 13 diverse properties as a component of wildlife recovery measures after the devastating 2020 bushfires.
A co-researcher from the Kangaroo Island Research Station, Peter Hammond, indicated that he used to refer to the Nest Box Project ‘Friends of the Invertebrates’, as the invertebrates were the only occupants of the bat as well as the pygmy-possum nest boxes most of the time.
Hammond also stated that they are gaining more knowledge about invertebrates along with targeted vertebrates.
“Most of our several hundred boxes are on burnt ground, but we also have some on unburnt properties as controls because our aim is to determine the value of nest boxes in bushfire recovery.”
Kangaroo Island’s unique ecosystem has faced challenges, particularly with the devastating bushfires that swept the island in 2019-2020. However, conservation efforts and the resilience of the island’s wildlife have allowed for the gradual recovery of habitats and populations. The island’s protected areas, including Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay Conservation Park, play a crucial role in safeguarding these precious species and their habitats.
Researchers stated that the ants were likely to gave been impacted by the bushfires.
